End cap and locking mechanism for pneumatic discharge arrangement

ABSTRACT

A PNEUMATIC DISCHARGE OUTLET FOR THE HOPPER OF A RAILWAY CAR COMPRISES A CUP-SHAPED CAP ADAPTED TO FIT OVER THE END OF A PNEUMATIC TUBE FOR CLOSING THE SAME. A RAIL-SHAPED MEMBER IS HINGEDLY CONNECTED ADJACENT THE END OF THE PNEUMATIC TUBE AND HAS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED THERETO THE CAP WHICH IN THE CLOSED POSITION IS IN SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH A GASKET SUPPORTED ON A FLANGE CONNECTED TO THE PNEUMATIC TUBE ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF. A LOCKING ARRANGMENT IS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE FLANGE OF THE PNEUMATIC TUBE AND IS ADAPTED   TO ENGAGE END PORTIONS OF THE BAIL-SHAPED MEMBER TO LOCK THE SAME IN THE CLOSED POSITION AND ALSO TO EXERT A PRESSURE ON THE CAP WHICH WILL COMPRESS THE GASKET TO PROVIDE FOR EFFECTIVE SEALING BETWEEN THE CAP AND THE END OF THE PNEUMATIC TUBE. THE LOCKING MECHANISM INCLUDES A MANUALLY ACTUATED CAMMING ELEMENT OPERABLE OPERABLE TO EXERT PRESSURE FOR EFFECTIVELY SEALING THE CAP RELATIVE TO THE END OF THE PNEUMATIC TUBE.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Ernest J. Nagy Munster, Ind.

[2l] Appl. No. 846,106

[22] Filed July 30, 1969 [45] Patented June 28, 1971 [73] AssigneePullman Incorporated Chicago, Ill.

[54] END CAP AND LOCKING MECHANISM FOR PNEUMATIC DISCHARGE ARRANGEMENT 6Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 302/52, 220/57 [5l] Int. Cl 865g 53/40 [50] Field of Search302/52; 292/259, 256; 220/57, 55.7;160/(Inquired); 49/(Inquired) [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,l08,238 2/1938 Strelow 292/259Primary ExaminerAndres I-l. Nielsen Attorneys-Hilmond O. Vogel and WayneMorris Russell ABSTRACT: A pneumatic discharge outlet for the hopper ofa railway car comprises a cupshaped cap adapted to fit over the end of apneumatic tube for closing the same. A bailshaped member is hingedlyconnected adjacent the end of the pneumatic tube and has pivotallyconnected thereto the cap which in the closed position is in sealingengagement with a gasket supported on a flange connected to thepneumatic tube adjacent one end thereof. A locking arrangement ispivotally connected to the flange of the pneumatic tube and is adaptedto engage end portions of the bail-shaped member to lock the same in theclosed position and also to exert a pressure on the cap which willcompress the gasket to provide for effective sealing between the cap andthe end of the pneumatic tube. The locking mechanism includes a manuallyactuated camming element operable to exert pressure for effectivelysealing the cap relative to the end of the pneumatic tube.

PATENTEU JUN28 I971 SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTOR ATT'Y.

PATENTEU JUH28 l9?! SHEET 2 OF 2 .llll

26 f VA m1 I NVE NTOR ERNEST J. NAGY AZ /Q VW ATT 'X END CAP ANI)LOCKING MECHANISM FOR PNEUMATIC DISCHARGE ARRANGEMENT SUMMARY Inpneumatic discharge arrangements for hoppers a pneumatic tubeconventionally extends transversely underneath a railway hopper car. Thetube is provided with opposite open ends which are normally closed bymeans of conventional cupshaped end caps supported on bail-shapedmembers hingedly supported adjacent the ends of the pneumatic tube sothat closure cap can be moved between open and closed positions. It isparticularly important that the end caps effectively perform theirsealing function so as to prevent the contamination and loss ofcomminuted materials during transit of the hopper car.

The present invention provides an improved mechanism for locking the endcap over the end of the pneumatic tube and to exert a positive pressureagainst a resilient gasket provided on the circumferentially extendingflange disposed in proximity adjacent the end of the pneumatic tube. Themechanism includes a rotatable cam which has a camming surface urgingthe bail-shaped member to maintain the cap in effective sealingengagement. The camming arrangement also provides effective lockingmeans so that the bail-shaped member is in a locked and closed positionachieving effective sealing required for over-the-rail operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational view of aportion of a railway hopper having at its lower end a pneumaticdischarge arrangement;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view, with portions broken away disclosingmeans for looking a closure cap in its closed position;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view taken substantially along the line 4-4of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view taken substantially along the line 5-5ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a view of an end portion of a pneumatic duct and sealing captherefor, taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The lower portion of a hopper structure 10 isdisclosed in FIG. 1. The hopper structure 10 comprises a plurality ofsloping walls 11 which are suitably supported on a rectangular frame 12in turn suitably supported underneath a conventional railway hopper car(not shown). The structure 10 is provided at its lower end with a pan 13which, as shown in FIG. 1, is provided with a chamber 14 adapted toreceive and discharge material by pneumatic means from the hopperstructure 10. The pan 13 includes a tubular conduit 15 which is open onopposite sides and is adapted to be connected to a suitable pneumaticsystem whereby material within the hopper may be discharged and conveyedthrough a pneumatic conveying system. The tubular conduit 15 is providedadjacent its open end with a gasket 17. Only one side of the tubularconduit 15 and related structure is disclosed since the sides aresymmetrical. The gasket 17 of resilient construction, such as rubber,plastic, etc., is suitably bonded to the circumferential flange 16. Asbest shown in FIG. 2, and as indicated at 18, the end of the tubularconduit 15 is open.

A closure cap and lock mechanism is generally designated at 19 andcomprises a cup-shaped cap 20 including a cylindrical wall 21 and an endwall 22. The end of the cylindrical wall 21 is provided with aperipheral flange 23 adapted, as best shown in FIG. 2, to be seatedagainst the gasket 17 in the closed position of the cap 20. The cap 20,as shown in FIG. 4, is provided with opposite outwardly extending hingemembers 24 which cooperate with the bail-shaped member generallydesignated at 25. The bail-shaped member 25 comprises a pair of arms 26straddling the cap 20, said arms 26 including converging portions 27which are connected to parallel end portions 28. The arms 26, as shownin FIG. 4, are provided with openings 29 which are engaged by the hingemembers 24 to permit limited swiveling movement of the cap 20 relativeto the arms 26. As best shown in FIG. 6, pins 30 extend through ends ofarms 26, are rigidly connected thereto and are also welded to links 31.A collar 24' acts as a spacer between the cap 20 and the lower arm 26 tosupport the cap thereon for relative swiveling movement. Elements 31'also overlap portions of the arms 26 and links 31, as best shown in FIG.6, in relative welded relation to provide a rigid L-shaped connectionbetween the links 31 and the arms 26.

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, hinge members 32 are rigidly secured tothe circumferential flange 16 encircling the tubular conduit 15. As bestshown in FIG. 4, the flange 16 has its outer edges of relativerectangular configuration. Each hinge member 32 has connected theretowashers 33 in relative spaced relation. The washers 33 are suitablywelded to the hinge members 32 and disposed therebetween are the links31 which are pivotal relative to the hinge members 32 which extendthrough bores 34 provided in said links 31.

As best shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7, a crossmember 35 is suitablyconnected to the ends of the parallel end portions 28 of the bail-shapedmember 25. A locking bail is generally designated at 36 and includes apair of parallel arms 37 which are hingedly mounted on hinge pins 38suitably supported by a plate 39 on the circumferential flange 16. Asbest shown in FIG. 7, the lower ends of the arms 37 have connectedthereto in parallel and spaced relation a pair of plates 40 whichrotatably support therebetween a cylindrical cam 41 having a cam surface42. The cam 41 is rotatable on a pivot pin 43 suitably carried on thespaced plates 40. The cam 41 also includes a bore 44 which has fixedtherein a pin 45 adapted, as shown in FIG. 7, to engage the innersurface 46 of one of the crossmembers 35. The cam 41, as best shown inFIG. 4, includes an arm 47 to which a tab 48 is connected. As best shownin FIG. 5, one of the plates 40 is provided with an opening 49 adaptedto register with a similar opening (not shown) in the arm 47 withinwhich a suitable car seal may be inserted which prevents hingingmovement of the arm 47 and rotation of the cam 41 thus maintaining thecap 20 in the locked position shown in FIG. 2.

THE OPERATION When the railway car has reached its destination, end caps20 are removed and one end of the tubular conduit 13 is connected to asuitable pneumatic discharge arrangement for withdrawing materials fromthe hopper 10. To move the cap 20 to the open position the car seal isremoved from the openings and the operator then manually grasps the tab48 moving the arm 47 in a direction outwardly from the pan l3 whereuponthe camming surface 42 is disengaged from the crossmember 35 and the pin45 is disengaged from the edge 46 of the member 35 whereupon thebail-shaped member 36, as best shown in FIG. 7, may be pivoted outwardlyand the bail-shaped member 25 carrying the cap 20 may be moved to thedotted line position shown in FIG. 2. In this position the tubularconduit has its open end available for connection to a suitablepneumatic discharge arrangement. After the discharge of material hasbeen effected the cap 20 is returned to its closed position, shown inFIG. 2, and the bail-shaped member 36 is moved into position straddlingthe end portions 28 whereupon rotation of the cam M is again effectedand the camming surface 42 applies a pressure forcing the ends 28 towardthe pan 13, in turn causing the flange 23 of the cap 20 to engage thegasket 17 in tight sealing relation. When the pin is in the positionshown in FIG. 7 against the surface 46 hinging movement of the bail 36is prevented and the cap 20 is securely locked in position whereupon asuitable car seal again may be inserted.

An effective end-cap-sealing arrangement and locking means therefore hasbeen disclosed and described.

I claim: 1. A closure mechanism for the pneumatic duct of a hopperdischarge arrangement comprising:

a cup-shaped cap in the closed position being in nested rela tion overthe open end ofa tubular portion of said duct, means hingedly connectingsaid cap to said duct including a bail having a pair of arms straddlingsaid cap,

means on said cap and arms providing for swiveling movement of said caprelative to said bail,

a transverse member connecting end portions of said arms,

a locking assembly including a pair of transversely spaced strapshingedly connected to said duct and being hingedly movable to a lockedposition straddling the end portions of said arms,

a bracket connecting said straps, and

camming means rotatably mounted on said bracket, said camming meansbeing movable into camming relation with said transverse member tomaintain said cap in a closed and locked position.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1,

said transverse member including one side engaged by said camming meansin said camming relation, and a projecting member on said camming meansengaging a second side of said transverse member.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2,

said bracket comprising a pair of parallel supports between which saidcamming means is mounted.

4B. The invention in accordance with claim 3,

said camming means comprising a cylindrical cam and an actuating fingerconnected thereto.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4,

said finger and bracket including means accommodating a locking seal.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 5,

said means hingedly connecting said cap comprising a pair of extensionelements connected to said arms in L-shaped relation, and

hinge members on said duct hingedly connected to said extensionelements.

